Bob Hall (politician)

Robert Lee Hall, known as Bob Hall (born March 5, 1942), is an American politician who is a Republican member of the Texas State Senate. Aligned with the Tea Party movement, he succeeded fellow Republican Bob Deuell, whom he unseated by three hundred votes in the Republican runoff election held on May 27, 2014.

This article is about the American politician. For the Canadian politician, see 50th New Brunswick Legislature.
Robert Lee "Bob" Hall
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 2nd district
Assumed office
January 13, 2015
Preceded byBob Deuell
Personal details
Born (1942-03-05) March 5, 1942
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Sarah Kay Smith Hall
Children3
ResidenceEdgewood, Van Zandt County
Texas
Alma materThe Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
OccupationBusinessman
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service1964–1969
Rank Captain
UnitSpace and Missiles Systems Division

Early life and education

Hall graduated in 1960 with honors from George D. Chamberlain High School in Tampa, Florida. He is an Eagle Scout. In 1964, Hall received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. At The Citadel, he was cited in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.[1] Hall was a captain in the United States Air Force. From 1984 to 2013, he operated a business, Professional Proposal Management, Inc., which assisted companies in obtaining government contracts.

Political career

Hall's run against incumbent State Senator Bob Deuell was his second run for public office. Hall had previously filed and campaigned for the same seat in 2012, but was subsequently disqualified due to failure to meet constitutional residency requirements.[2]

Hall received endorsements from various conservative individuals and organizations[3] including former Texas Republican State Chairman Cathie Adams, who praised Hall's commitment.[4] Hall unseated Deuell in a runoff election, 18,230 votes (50.4 percent) to 17,930 (49.6 percent).[5][6]

Deuell had led a three-candidate field in the primary on March 4, with 23,847 votes (48.5 percent). Because he fell short of a majority, he was placed in the runoff with the number-two candidate, Bob Hall, who in the primary polled 19,085 votes (38.8 percent). The remaining 6,240 votes (12.7 percent) went to a third candidate, Mark Thompson.[7] With his nomination in hand, Hall defeated Libertarian Party nominee, Don Bates, in the November 4 general election.

One January 23, 2019, the chairmanship of the Agriculture committee was given to Hall after the chairmanship was taken from Kel Seliger, who had made a lewd comment to a female staff member of Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.[8]

Voting record and political positions

Education

Hall consistently votes against unfunded mandates on local public schools. He supported numerous pieces of legislation regarding unfunded mandates in education including SB 1068, which amends Chapter 38.101 of the Education Code so that an assessment of the physical fitness of a student may only be done at the request of the student's parents,[9] and SB 1309, which removes all mandates for teacher training and student instruction on internet safety, teen dating violence, bullying, parenting and paternity, child abuse, and bus safety.[10]

Abortion

During his tenure as a Senator, Hall has consistently supported pro-life legislation. Examples of supported legislation by Hall include SB 10, which created stricter abortion requirements at Health Care Facilities;[11] SB 258, which authorizes burial or cremation of fetal tissue after abortion or miscarriage;[12] and SB 20, which prohibits coverage of abortion from taxpayer funded health insurance plans.[13]

Gun rights

Hall has been described as a Second Amendment advocate, regularly voting against restrictions on gun ownership. He voted in favor of HB 910, which authorizes open carry of handguns;[14] SB 16, which reduces the fee for firearm carry licenses;[15] and SB 11, which authorizes concealed carry of firearms on college campuses.[16]

Property tax

Hall has voted on several pieces of property tax reform legislation. SB 1 would require cities and counties to hold an election if they plan to increase their property tax revenues by 6%, regardless of whether they are increasing the actual tax rate or just taking advantage of rising property values.[17] Hall also voted for the 2015 budget bill, which put billions of dollars into property tax relief funds to buy down local property taxes for 2015.[18]

Legislative ratings
Hall legislative rankings by interest groups
Year Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Texas Values Action "Family & Faith" Texas State Rifle Association Texas Right to Life
2017 100 (A+) 98 (A+) (A+) 100 (A+)

2018 reelection

In the 2018 Republican primary, Hall was challenged by state representative Cindy Burkett, who ran as a politically moderate alternative to him. Hall defeated her in the March 6, 2018, primary election.[19][20]

Hall won his second state Senate term in the general election held on November 6, 2018. With 152,659 votes (59.4 percent), he defeated Kendall Scudder, who finished with 104,528 (40.6 percent).[21]

Personal life

Hall and his wife, the former Sarah Kay Smith, a native of Commerce in Hunt County in East Texas, live in Tailwind Airpark in Edgewood, a community for pilots and aviation enthusiasts which has its own runway and hangars. The couple is Southern Baptist and has three adult sons.[22]

Electoral history
Republican Primary, 2018: Senate District 2
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Bob Hall 35,561 53.2
Cindy Burkett 31,239 46.8
Majority
Turnout 66,800
Texas General Elections 2014: Senate District 2
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Bob Hall 99,868 83.6
Libertarian Don Bates 19,609 16.4
Majority
Turnout 119,477
Republican hold
Republican Primary Runoff, 2014: Senate District 2
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Bob Hall 18,230 50.4
Bob Deuell 17,930 49.6
Majority
Turnout 36,160
Republican Primary, 2014: Senate District 2
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Bob Hall 19,085 38.8
✓ Bob Deuell 23,847 48.5
Mark Thompson 6,240 12.7
Majority
Turnout 49,172

References
  1. "More About Bob Hall". votebobhall.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  2. "State Senate candidate Bob Hall disqualified by GOP from running against Deuell – The Rockwall News | The Rockwall News". Myrockwallnews.com. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  3. "Endorsements | Senator Bob Hall | Constitutional Conservative". Senator Bob Hall. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  4. "SenatorBobHall.com/Endorsements".
  5. "2014 Republican Party Primary Runoff: Election Night Returns". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  6. Leszcynski, Ray. Bob Hall ousts District 2 incumbent Deuell, Dallas Morning News, May 27, 2014.
  7. "Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014 (Senate District 10)". team1.sos.state.tx.us. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  8. Lt. Gov. Appoints Sen. Bob Hall as Senate Ag Committee Chair, KAMR-TV, Amarillo, Texas, January 23, 2019.
  9. "Senate Journal listing" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us.
  10. "Senate Journal listing" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us.
  11. "Senate Journal listing" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us.
  12. "Senate Journal listing" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us.
  13. "Senate Journal listing" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us.
  14. "Senate Journal listing" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us.
  15. "Senate Journal listing" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us.
  16. "Senate Journal listing" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us.
  17. "House property tax ideas range from minor tweaks to ending school taxes". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  18. "Senate Journal listing" (PDF). www.journals.senate.state.tx.us.
  19. Leszcynski, Ray (March 6, 2018). "Sen. Bob Hall Wins District 2 Republican Primary, Beats Back Challenge from Four-Term Rep. Cindy Burkett". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  20. Formby, Brandon; Greene, Sydney (March 6, 2018). "GOP State Sen. Craig Estes Ousted; Sen. Bob Hall Defeats Burkett". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  21. "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  22. "Meet Bob Hall, the Tea Party True Believer Headed to the Senate". The Texas Observer. May 30, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
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